TikTok has permanently suspended the account promoting “Musk,” the documentary about Elon Musk, citing political-policy violations. Bleecker Street was informed Friday afternoon, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The platform cited “political-policy violations” in a message to the distributor, marking the latest flashpoint between the film and major social media platforms ahead of its wide theatrical expansion.
The Musk documentary TikTok account had drawn more than 10,000 followers since it went live before TikTok pulled it down. The film, directed by Alex Gibney, grossed $70,000 in four theaters in New York and Los Angeles during its opening weekend and is expanding to more than 470 screens across North America.
What TikTok Told Bleecker Street About The Suspension
TikTok informed Bleecker Street of a “permanent suspension” of the account. A TikTok official message to the distributor noted a “level of severity with political-policy violations” and said, “some violations trigger immediate suspension.”
Before the suspension, Bleecker Street had posted two pieces of content on the account. One was an intermission-style ad urging viewers to delete their X account and discussing what it called a fascist hellscape. The other encouraged people to see the film before it gets shut down.
Bleecker Street’s Response And The Appeal
A Bleecker Street spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter the company was disappointed by the timing of the suspension and confirmed it is in the process of appealing TikTok’s decision. Even a reversal could prove costly if it does not come during a weekend window when more people are likely to see the film.
The suspension follows an earlier standoff between the distributor and TikTok. The platform had previously refused to accept an advertisement for the film’s trailer, even after Meta and Google’s YouTube accepted ads for the same trailer, according to The Hollywood Reporter. X, the social media platform Musk owns, has not accepted any advertising for the documentary.
Background On The Documentary And TikTok Ownership
“Musk” devotes a large portion of its second half to Elon Musk’s political activities with DOGE and his acquisition of Twitter, which Gibney suggests was done to control the digital public square.
TikTok has no official affiliation with Musk. The platform is partly owned by Larry Ellison, who receives a rough moment in the doc when a text from him offering to pay billions to help finance Musk’s Twitter acquisition is shown.
What’s Next
Bleecker Street’s appeal of the suspension is pending, and the outcome has not been announced. The film continues its theatrical rollout, expanding from its initial four-theater run to more than 470 screens across North America.
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